“As I said, most people wouldn’t do what you did.”
Uncomfortable, I sighed. “I could have gotten bitter like my dad, but I knew people just needed a chance. I’m not a complete softie. I do have a financial adviser. I’m pretty sure I’ve given him an ulcer and possibly a dependency on antacids.”
She laughed. “I have a few of those types. My manager, Stevie, has a stress ball with my face on it.”
“Wow.”
“I gave it to her.” Her lips curved into a sly smile that made my mouth dry.
“So, you know you’re a pain in the ass.”
“Well aware.” She dropped her foot and pushed off the fence. “I’m probably keeping you from working.”
“Yeah, I should check on my team.”
“Guess, I’ll see you around, Tate. Or...” Her gaze drifted down my costume. “Matt Murdock, was it?”
I laughed. “Yeah. Dare Devil.”
“Hmm. I guess I’ll have to check it out if he looks half as good as you do in that suit.” She trailed her fingers over my arm as she went by then headed down the hill toward the lights of the game tents. The swish of her skirt dragged my gaze down and I slammed my eyes shut and tipped my head back.
Had she been flirting with me?
Definitely not the Amber I remembered.
The distinct crackle of one of my walkie talkies, then Molly’s voice looking for me, dragged me back into my current reality. I hurried back to the maze and unhooked it from the back panel.
“Yeah?”
“The Villain tent collapsed. We could use some help.”
“Be right there.” I put my mask back on and ran down the hill.
Part of me wondered where Amber had disappeared to so fast, but then I spotted her ducking under the fence where there was a path between our houses.
Damn, those legs were going to kill me.
“Tate!”
I ran over to where Molly and Dylan were struggling with the tent poles. A crying toddler was sitting in the grass with a large pumpkin shaped bucket full of candy between his legs. The mother was trying to console him, and the father was trying to help Molly.
“I’m so sorry, Tate.” Molly was wearing a Ghostbusters jumpsuit and the other props for her costume were dumped into a pile a few feet from the toddler.
“No problem.” I tossed aside my mask and grabbed the biggest pole that was bent under the extra weight. “Dylan can you grab the other side?”
“Got it, boss.”
Between the two of us and the helpful father, we managed to get the tent up enough that we could pull the tables of candy and prizes out before the whole thing collapsed. I turned around to make sure the kids were out of the way, but thankfully Pete, one of my staff, had cleared everyone out.
“What happened?” I leaned down to pick up my mask.
Molly unzipped her jumpsuit, an old Haven High shirt underneath. “Couple of kids rough housing.”
“I suppose it was bound to happen. Did you kick them out?”
“Yeah. That damn Richmond kid,” Molly said with disgust.
Ethan Richmond was a pain in my ass. He’d been a jerk before my windfall, but after he’d been even more annoying. His older brother was just as much of an ass, just in a different font. James Richmond III had been pissed that I hadn’t used his firm for my financial planning after I won the lottery.
